| Main PMRefrigeration Tool page | Custom programming / co-branding / business opportunities | |
| Load Times & Performance times | Will this program make me a D.I.Y. HVAC/R technician ? | |
| Requirements | Will this program guide me in charging a system ? | |
| How do I enter numbers ? | ||
| Why the funny numbers in the Refrigeration Demo screen ? | ||
| Do I have to enter all that information ??? | ||
| Load times | ||
|
The time to load PMRefrigeration Tool into your Palm will vary a great deal depending on what Palm you own.
Of course, this is a one-time task. If you spend the money for better
Palm performance, you get better
performance. The Tungsten line costs some $$$, and kicks some
a$$. I use it, and I couldn't imagine using less. The lesser models save you some money, but are not as
fast. These times are dictated by the hardware ( and related OS ),
and the differences are not under my control. Some examples :
Load full product from PC to Palm via 'HotSync' , with all 38 refrigerant databases ( this is a
one-time task ) : Performance benchmarks :
Full
refrigeration & psychrometric report with all load, EER, COP, and performance calcs,
Superheats, psychrometrics, deltas, etc
Short form
refrigeration report with just
Superheats, SubCools, piping losses, etc - no psychrometrics ( and thus
no loads, EER, etc ) Psych
Calcs ( for full detail state calcs, input DB & WB or DB &
RH ) Change refrigerant selection ( R-11, R-12, R-22, R-410a, etc ) from
pre-loaded database ( a common task in PMRefrigeration Tool )
I'm
sure you start to get the idea - 'You get what you pay for'. |
||
| Requirements | ||
| PMRefTool
runs on any version of Palm OS 3.0 or higher. Seeing as Palm
currently ships 4.0 / 5.0, this means it will run on most older Palms,
but not the one you borrowed from the Smithsonian. I have tested
the program on various Palms from the IIIC and up. If unsure, just
try it for free.
Program size ( needs this much
memory to store in your Palm Pilot, with libraries ) : ~ 350 K |
||
| Will this program make me a D.I.Y. HVAC/R technician ? | ||
| Ummm.... sorry, no. PMRefTool is a tool for qualified, trained, knowledgeable techs who understand how, when, where and why to make which measurements, and how to take them correctly, and what they mean, as well as how to go about diagnosing the causes of problems. This knowledge takes years of hard work and study, as well as practice, to gain. | ||
| Will this program guide me in charging a system ? | ||
| Well, that depends on exactly what you're asking here. 'Will it tell you the various system calculated parameters, such as SuperHeat, SubCooling, performance information, etc ? Yes. Will it tell you 'These are what the machine should be doing ?' No. I've looked at a variety of 'generic charging chart' kinds of things, and I am not convinced that they are sufficient to do a good job of diagnosing or charging a system. Therefore, I have not included any such 'generic charging charts' at this time. I must refer you to the manufacturers data and chart for the system you are working on. That is really the only way that I know of at this time to assure correct system performance. | ||
| What's up with the funny numbers in the Refrigeration demo screen ? | ||
| My purpose in putting in voltages like 127 and 238 ( instead of nominal 120 / 240 ), and CFM of 1100 instead of 1200 ( nominal for 3 ton A/C ) is to remind you that you should put in actual measured voltages and other data in order to get actual calculated results. If you use nominal 'standard numbers' as inputs, you will get 'nominal' results, which will not truly reflect your actual system performance. If you really want to know what the system is doing, you don't assume ' Well, 3 tons needs 400 CFM / ton = 1200', or 'Supply voltage is 120 / 240' ! If you want an accurate report, measure accurate numbers and use them ! If you want to know 'what the manufacturer says it will do under 'ideal conditions', fine, you don't need this program, you need the manufacturers data sheet. The purpose here is to tell you what is IS doing, not 'what someone says it SHOULD do on paper', so that you can better see and diagnose the difference between the two. | ||
| How do I enter numbers ? | ||
| For every field on every screen where you're allowed to make an entry ( as opposed to 'result only' fields ), you can use all the standard Palm methods, like using the stylus to draw them on the 'handwriting box', or the keyboard ( if present ). Also, on every field, you can tap the label of that field and you will be taken to an entry screen where you can 'point and tap' any entry without having to remember any special stylus squiggles, or fumble with a tiny keyboard. | ||
 |
||
| Do
I have to enter all that information on the AC/R System screen ???
|
||
|
Only if you want a complete and accurate report. The calculations
and reports will continue to run as best they can even with partial
information, so if all you're looking for is the refrigeration stuff,
you only have to enter the inputs relevant to that, etc. However,
if you want a 'Full Report', and you want it to be accurate and
complete, then yes, you have to supply the required inputs.
For the air measurements, you need enter only DB and either WB or RH. In fact, you can only enter one of ( WB or RH ), because the program is going to insist on calculating the other ( whichever it may be ). You must enter DB and either WB or RH. WB and RH , for instance, will not work. |
||
